Removal of storage box in FFR tray

[Dop]

G/Day , I remember reading a post in here were someone had removed the dropped rear section on the FFR and replaced it with a tailgate. Within that post they mentioned that you can also remove the storage box in the front of the tray (see Attached). I am planning to remove this and other than filling the holes are there any problems that you may be aware of before I start?
Thanks Grant

[rathgar]

Not really, I've taken it out in mine. Just keep drilling out the rivets till its free and from memory there are some bolts holding in the steel frame that is under the aluminium panel. Think I also needed a knife to cut the silicone.

Once its gone you will work out that the rubbing strips on the bed floor stop short of the box, so hopefully that won't bother you. Maybe you will need to get some rivets to fill in the holes you'll make by removing the rivets and make sure whats left stays together.

Makes for a more usable space once its gone.

[Dop]

Thank you rathgar, all I wanted to know. I'm the king of the inane question. I did find the thread that had been posted before, as usual just after I posted this one. Didn't talk about how this change was done though. So thanks again mate, Grant

[Trigger82]

Keep us up to date with the progress once you start please :)

[Dop]

G/Day Trigger, I undid it this afternoon, there is a large very robust looking frame under it once you get the aluminium off. I have left this in, I am thinking of moving this down and reattaching it in the middle. I am going to build a bed with two panels that lift up to access the area underneath. This frame would work well as a support between them. I will take photos 2moro. Cheers, Grant

[Dop]

Ok, so if you are planning on doing this, have some patients and an angle grinder. I found that the main pop rivets that I had to remove I could not drill out, so I cut the tops off with the angle grinder (don't forget the ear plugs!). I still have to clean it out and fill the holes with pop rivets, but this is what it looks like now.

[Trigger82]

So where the box used to be (aka the different coloured area) is that still the same floor section minus those rubbing strips?

My eyes are playing tricks and im not sure if the painted green area is slightly raised as in its another sheet on top

[Dop]

I should have cleaned it up Trigger, I am 99.9% sure it is the same floor, it only looks raised as it has about 2mm of dust and dirt on it. The slide strips have been shortened. There is no lip between the uncovered section and the exposed part of the tray. I had to go to do other things so I didn't get time to clean it. I will go out and photo it soon and post a definitive answer for you. You are left with a ton of holes to fill, these I will just place 6mm pop rivets into. The frame that I removed seems to good to through away, not sure what to do with it yet, but may place it in the middle of the tray as a support for the bed I'm about to make out of marine ply.

[Dop]

Here they are Trigger, it is a continuation of the same panel, its all one peace mate.

[Trigger82]

Cheers :)